Research & reports

Zhang Le · Chinese Landscape Architecture · China

A review tracing the history of the school garden in Western basic education since the 17th century. It states that in modern educational philosophy, gardens have been valued as a context beneficial to children's intellectual and spiritual growth and well-being, and were introduced into kindergartens, primary and middle schools as an "outdoor classroom." The review examines how the values and meanings of school gardens have expanded across changing historical periods and surveys recent research and practice, with the stated goal of promoting the development of school gardens and children's gardens in contemporary China.

Satrya Wulan Darmayanti · Kebijakan dan Manajemen Publik · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This qualitative study describes the community empowerment strategy used by the Surabaya City Agriculture Department, Indonesia, to raise the incomes of participants in an urban catfish farming ("Budidaya Lele") program in the Pakis district. Informants, selected purposively, included the department's head of production, training staff, and program participants. Data were analyzed through reduction, presentation, verification, and triangulation. The department's strategy comprised three elements: organizing participants into "gotong royong" (mutual-aid) community groups, providing mentoring through seminars, training, and monitoring, and jointly planning the program with participating residents.

주혜선, Youjin Jang, 박천호 · · South Korea

A study of participants in a family-oriented urban agriculture experience program in South Korea (2015) compared a participant group with a control group. Family cohesion increased significantly in the participant group after the program, with no significant change in the control group. Recognition of urban agriculture also increased significantly among participants between pre- and post-program measurements. Among program activities, a kitchen-garden module was rated most preferred, followed by seeding, potato planting, an herbal lecture with vinegar-making, and lotus-leaf harvesting with cooking. Participants reported reduced stress, increased family unity, intimacy and dialogue, and high satisfaction with the garden's soil conditions.

王京鹏, 吴仁武, 徐宁伟 · Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni · China

Using the Liuyiyuan urban agriculture demonstration park in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China as a case study, this paper (2015) examines an "agriculture-education-economy" cyclical development model that combines student practical education with socioeconomic benefits, framed against Wenzhou's agricultural upgrading and transformation. Focusing on spatial planning and project design, it proposes a planning philosophy built on attractive plant landscapes and informed by local cultural characteristics and visitor psychological needs, organically integrating tourism, agricultural production, demonstration and outreach, cultural recreation, science education, and leisure activities within the natural environment, aiming to create a favorable learning environment that unifies human activity with the natural setting.

Soo‐Ho Choi, Seunghyun Lee, Eun-Jee Kang, Young-Geun Kim · 농촌지도와 개발 · South Korea

In an urban-rural complex city in South Korea created in 1995 to foster symbiosis between city and countryside, a user survey at the Namyangju Agricultural Technology Center compared how agriculturalists and nonagriculturalists perceive the center's role and function. Agriculturalists mainly visited to take part in agriculture-related education programs, while nonagriculturalists visited more for agricultural understanding, leisure, children's education and hands-on field programs, and nonagriculturalists expressed stronger demand for urban agriculture, research on improving rural living, adjustment education for returning farmers, and farming-promotion functions, pointing to a need for the center to change its services for its growing nonagriculturalist user base.

王长亮, 王玉 · 农产品市场周刊 · China (Jinan)

This article discusses the concept of "urban agriculture," which originated in the United States in the 1950s and 60s. It defines urban agriculture as modern agriculture in urbanized areas that utilizes rural landscapes, natural ecology, and environmental resources for leisure, tourism, education, and innovation. The text suggests that the development of urban and sightseeing agriculture has promising prospects due to increasing demand for green food and ecological environments.

Evy Latifah, Kuntoro Boga, dan Joko Maryono · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Kediri)

In 2012, a school vegetable garden model was introduced at SMK Negeri Plosoklaten in Kediri, Indonesia, to promote increased vegetable consumption among students. Ten types of vegetables were grown on a 36 m² plot, with students participating in their maintenance. The total harvest was 249.6 kg, equivalent to 683.8 grams per day, demonstrating that a four-member family could consume 171g of vegetables per person per day. This amount met 43% of the WHO's recommended fruit and vegetable intake, or 85% for vegetables alone.

장진, 오충현 · 한국환경생태학회 학술발표논문집 · South Korea

This study examined the application of urban agriculture's therapeutic properties to address school violence in South Korea, focusing on middle school students. A survey of 77 middle school students in Gangdong-gu A Middle School, conducted from September 15 to October 15, 2014, found that 68.8% had experience growing plants. Students reported that urban farming activities could foster appreciation for life, provide a sense of accomplishment, and help build friendships.

Christine Brown-Paul, Sam Ross · Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses · Indonesia (Jakarta)

In Jakarta, Indonesia, urban farming and hydroponics are increasingly used to feed the growing population and ensure food security. This article highlights hydroponic strawberry production in Bandung and features a large hydroponic grower that supplies Jakarta supermarkets and operates an educational facility for future hydroponic professionals.

Qing-Long Lin, Soon-Seok Lee, Woo‐Whan Jang · Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning · South Korea

This study analyzed the demand and willingness to pay (WTP) for agricultural experience at Daegu Urban Agriculture Park using the contingent valuation method. A survey of 346 Daegu citizens and logistic analysis showed that sex, age, education, and alienation area for urban agriculture affected the probability of agricultural experience participation. The estimated WTP ranged from 6,052 to 16,436 won, and scenario analysis suggested 25,000 won as the proper participation fee for maximum revenue.

Etik Wulandari, Bambang Guritno, Nurul Aini · Jurnal Produksi Tanaman · Indonesia

This study in Indonesia investigated the effect of combining the number of cucumber plants per polybag and growing media composition on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). A single-factor randomized block design was used, with 12 treatments and 3 replications. Results showed that combinations of 1, 2, or 3 plants per polybag with a mixed growing medium of soil, chicken manure, and sand had a significantly better effect on cucumber growth and yield components compared to other treatments.

Yan Xu · ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst (University of Massachusetts Amherst) · China

This master project proposes a restoration plan for building a modern agricultural planting garden in an urban area for Shenzhen Central Park, China. The plan is based on field study, literature review, background data analysis, and case studies, addressing challenges such as weak accessibility, lack of social activity, and loss of cultural identity. The proposed multi-functional agricultural planting garden explores the possibility of improving community and urban health through urban agriculture.

Eun Young Choi, 정윤남, 김세용 · 한국도시설계학회지 도시설계 · South Korea (Seoul)

This study in Seoul, South Korea, examined the relationship between the importance of urban agriculture ordinance items, participation satisfaction, and sustainability among urban agriculture participants. Findings show that participants' sustained engagement involves conscious stages, and they prioritize educational and direct support for individuals over indirect government support. The study also identified a difference in perception regarding the importance of ordinance items between experts and participants.

장진, 오충현 · · South Korea

This study examined the application of urban agriculture's therapeutic properties as a measure against school violence in South Korea. A 2014 survey of 77 middle school students in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, found that 68.8% had plant cultivation experience. Reasons for participating in urban agriculture activities included learning about the value of life and plant cultivation, finding peace and achievement, and socializing with friends. The most needed experiential activities were cognitive (41.6%), emotional (40.3%), and behavioral (36.4%).

원선이 · 한국화예디자인학연구 · South Korea

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services in South Korea created a vegetable garden to provide urban agriculture activists with rational methods for rooftop garden creation and crop cultivation guidelines. Over two years, 201 plant materials were collected and studied, with 170 ultimately selected. Selected edible plants included 48 vegetable species, 9 fruit tree species, and 11 field crop species, while ornamental plants included 40 flower species, 23 herb species, 16 sedum and sedge species, and 23 woody species. Four planting models—box, tunnel, wall, and mobile box types—were also developed based on the growth characteristics and uses of the collected plant materials.

김현주 · 한국실과교육학회지 · Korea

This study aimed to understand the current status of children's dietary education in Korea and explore the applicability of taste education through case studies from other countries. It analyzed the 2007 and 2009 revised elementary school practical arts curricula and prior research, examining cases from Japan, Italy, and France. While taste education is not systematically integrated into Korea's formal curriculum, it is expanding through educational farms and organic school meals, and the study concluded that a shift towards taste education is necessary to achieve dietary education goals.

김재연, 김윤수, 이연숙 · 한국생태환경건축학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · South Korea

This study observed changes in residents' perception and participation in forming their community garden in urban deprived areas, following the provision of education programs. The study is significant for exploring a new method for fundamental and voluntary regeneration of deprived urban areas, rather than using conventional top-down approaches.

Jerry L. Peters, B. Allen Talbert · ˜The œAgricultural education magazine · United States (Indianapolis)

The STAR Academy, established in 1994 in Indianapolis, Indiana, was an agricultural magnet program created to prepare inner-city youth for a new agriculture industry. Housed in a comprehensive high school, the program was designed to provide real-life application for academic subjects and foster a global understanding of agriculture. Over its almost 20-year history, the STAR Academy provided urban students with a variety of agricultural opportunities.

김현주 · 한국실과교육학회지 · South Korea

This study aimed to understand the current state of children's dietary education and explore the applicability of taste education, focusing on international examples. Analyzing Korean elementary school curricula and prior research, alongside cases from Japan, Italy, and France, revealed that taste education is not systematically integrated into the formal curriculum in South Korea. However, taste education is expanding through initiatives like garden education farms and organic school lunches, suggesting a proposed shift from theory and experience-centered to value and emotion-centered dietary education.

Zhu Shi-non · Chinese Horticulture Abstracts · China

This study discusses an innovative horticultural teaching method for cultivating talents in urban agriculture, using teachers' science and technology projects, students' science and technology innovation projects, and graduation projects as carriers. The first step of this practice was carried out and yielded good results.

I‐Jin Choi, Hyuk-Hyun Kwon, Hanho Lee, Hyoung-Gi Son, Sang-Kil Hong, Jong-Woon Kang, Yu-Soon Park · 한국자원식물학회지 · South Korea

In a South Korean laboratory and field study, ethanol and water extracts of eight plant species were tested for insecticidal activity against diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) larvae on Korean radish and Korean cabbage using a leaf-disc spray method. Capsicum annuum (chili seed) extract gave the highest activity, 83.3% at 1500 mg/L after 48 hours; in field trials with twelve applications before harvest, Coptis japonica (goldthread) and C. annuum extracts reached control efficacies of 87.4% and 83.7% on Korean radish, and 74.3% and 69.3% (with Chelidonium majus) on Korean cabbage, with no phytotoxic effect on seed germination or seedling growth observed.

DU Shan-sha · Journal of Beijing Union University · China

Starting from the long-standing connection between culture and agriculture, this paper analyzes the basic characteristics of Chinese culture across four dimensions — material culture, behavioral culture, institutional culture and spiritual culture — and examines how this multi-dimensional culture shapes the specific characteristics of urban agriculture during the transition from traditional to modern urban agriculture. The analysis finds that these multi-dimensional cultural influences make China's urban agriculture development characteristics substantially different from those in Western countries.

In-Hwan Lee, Hyo‐Jeong Lee, Seul-Bi Lee, Jeon In-Cheol, Yong-Geun Kim · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea

In Seoul metropolitan urbanites, South Korea, differences in willingness to participate in farm village experience tourism and perceptions were investigated between groups with and without urban farming experience. The study found that the urban farming experienced group showed less willingness to participate in farm village experience tourism compared to the non-experienced group. Primary reasons for participation were the natural environment and children's education, while the main reason for non-participation was busy daily life.

Antonius Nindito Jati Dennyarso · · Indonesia

This study descriptively analyzed the communication strategies employed by the Gerakan Indonesia Berkebun (Indonesia Gardening Movement) to disseminate urban farming through social media sites. Using a qualitative descriptive research method, it investigated the socialization process on Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Mailing List, and YouTube. The findings identified communication strategies including the roles of administrators and moderators, participatory message strategies, and media integration strategies. Facebook and Twitter served as forums for urban farming socialization to the general public, while the Yahoo Mailing List was crucial for activists' socialization and movement formation.

Hui Wang · Anhui nongye kexue · China

This paper examines the internal mechanism for discipline building and characteristic collection at urban agriculture colleges, and proposes a technical approach for constructing characteristic collections.